John l



1. L. HYLAND. BOAT LAUNCHING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT, I 7 19H'.

1,304,3 1 6. Patented May 20, 1919.

JOHN L. HYLAN D, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

. `BO.AT-I.:AUN'CHINGr APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2o, 1919.

Application filed September 17, 1917. Serial No. 191,853.

To all whom t may concern:

. Be it known that I, JOHN L. HYLAND, a citizen of the United States, residing aty St. v Paul, in the county of Ramsey and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Boat-Launching Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in launching apparatus designed particularly for use in connection with ships life boats, such as are particularly adapted for launching from davits.

The invention consists essentially of an apparatus in the form of a skid attachment which is' adapted to be fitted to any ships life boats amid-ships, but not to be in any way'attached thereto, and arranged so that as soon as the boat is safely launched and clear of the ship the' apparatus. may be quickly freed from the boat.

The apparatus is so constructed as to hold the life boat in an upright position and guard it from being broken or damaged by Contact with the shipsI side, and prevent the life boat from dropping into openings between the decks or catching on the ships side, etc.

My 'invention consists in the features of construction in combination hereinafter particularly described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings which' are a part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a sectional view through a life boat showing one form of my apparatus arran ed in connection therewith,

ig. 2 is a detail view illustrating a modiiication of my invention,

Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 1, illustrating another modified form of my invention utilizing a double skid feature,

Fig. 4 is a detailed view of one form of my l invention removed from the boat,

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a portion of the invention illustrating a supporting caster, and

Fig. 6 is a partial detail of one of the skid members illustrating a lubricating device forming part of my invention.

Referring to the drawings, A designates an ordinary construction of life boat, which is adapted to be supported within the skid attachment as shown best in Figs. 1 and 3.

In the form shown in Fig. 1, my attachment as shown consists of two skid members 2 made of wood or of other material bent or shaped, as shown, to conform to the curvature of the boat, supporting blocks 3 at the bottom of the boat, being preferably secured upon the skid members.

4 represents cross-bars or blocks secured in separated position across thelower ends of the skid members 2, the keel of the boat, as shown, fitting between said blocks. The internal surfaces of the skid members and supporting blocks 3 are preferably covered with suitable yielding material 5 to engage with and prevent injuryvto the sides of the boat. To the lower ends of the skid members 2 are attached cables or chains 6, preferably through the medium of plates 7, secured to the lower ends of the skid members and curved to conform to the bottom of the boat. The cables or chains, as shown, terminate in a ring 8 to which a cable or chain 9 is attached. The other end of the chain or cable 9 is connected with a lever 10 adapted to removably pass through a bracket 11 connected to one end of each of the chains or cables 12, the other ends of the chains or cables 12 being connected to the upper Vends of skid members as through the medium of a crossbar 13.' With the boat iii-position upon the skid members, vas shown in Fig. 1, the cable or chain 9 will pass up over the side of boat and across the top thereof with the lever 1() extending through the bracket v11 and secured as by means of a ring 14 loosely carried by the chain or cable 9 so as to be slipped over the end of the lever and hold the same in position as'shown in Fig. 1.

In the form illustrated in Fig. 1 the skid members are shown terminating just above the point of attachment of the cables 12.

I may however, as shown in'Fig. 4, provide the skid members with extensions 15 projecting above the gunwale of the boat, and where I .do this, I preferably provide strut rods 16 connecting the bracket 11 with said extensions. Casters 17 may also be attached to the under-sides of the transverse members 4 for the purpgose of allowing the boat to be freely moved upon the ships deck.

In the modication lshown in Fig. 2, the skid members terminate short of the keel of the rboat with plates 18 corresponding to the plates 7 secured to the lower ends of the skid members.

In this form I' secure a cross-bar or block 19 upon the lower ends of the skid members,

simply extend skid members corresponding to skid members 2 entirely around the bottom and sides of the boat and' pro-vide d-uplicate supporting blocks 3. I also employ blocks 21 secured upon the curved bottoms of the skid members to form a support for the cross members or blocks 4.

I also show in Fig. 3 the upper ends of the strut members fastened over the edges of or inside the boat, whereby to allow boats to be packed one within the` other.

In launching a life boat in the `ordinary manner by the use of davits, particularly where the ship is sinking and has taken a list, great diificulty is experienced in keeping the boat out of contact with the side of the ship and preventing it being damaged, etc., and also inpreventing the boat passing between the decks or otherwise being caught. With the use ofmy improved skid apparatus as shown, these dificulties are obviated and the boat can be safely launched Without damage or difiiculty under all conditions.

In Fig.v 6, I show the skid member formed with an exterior groove 22, a tongue 23 being'securedy at one end so that it is free and will stand over said groove. Thus in use of the apparatus, as the tongue 23 comes in contact witha solid part, as the ship, it will be forced thereby into the groove, forcing out lubricant that may be placed in the groove to lubricate the exterior of the skid members. For the purpose of lubricating theouter surface of the skid members, suitable means, such as shown in Fig. 6 may be employed.

My improved skid apparatus further acts as a protection to the boat to prevent its breaking up in launching.

I do not restrict myself to the exact construction shown, but may modify the details of construction without departing from my invention, the scope of which is defined in the following claims.

I claim:

l. A boat launching apparatus compris- Ing` a removable skid constructed to receive a boat and fastening means removably sup'- porting, a boat within said skid.

2. A boat launching apparatus comprisingl aVv skid interiorly fitted to the contour of the boat and means carried by said skid and extending across the top of asupported boat to removably secure the same upon said skid.

3. A .boat launching apparatus comprising a skidy interiorly conforming-to the curvature of the-boat, cable connections attached to said skid and'A extendingfover. a supported boat and means securingsaid` chain or; cable in position holding a supporting boat upon said-skid'.

4. A boat launching' apparatuscomprisingv askid constructed to'removablfy: support a boat and. means carried by'- saidy skid and surrounding said boat removably: securing; a supported boat upon: said skid.

5. Ay boat launching apparatus comprising a skid constructed to .receive a boat, and fastening means carried by: said skid?A and extending over a supported? boat for the purpose set forth. l

6. A boat launchingv apparatus comprising a skid constructed to receive aA boat, means carried by the bottom of said skid formingv an intermediate space to receive the boat keel and fastening means carried. by said skid andV extending over said boat. for the purpose set forth.

7. A boat launching apparatus comprising a skid constructed to receive a boat,A a yielding lining for saidl skid, a" cablev` carried by said skid `and extending overa-supi'- ported boat and means for! securing said cable in position` holding a boat supported. upon said skid.

In testimonyy whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of twowitnesses.'

JOHN' L.. HYLA'N'D'.

lVitnesses:

F. WINKLER, R. A. FISCHER'.

Copies of'this patent may be` obtained for vefeents each, by addressing, theommissioner. offratentn. Washington, D. C. 

